YouTube Video Size Guide: Here’s What to Know About YouTube Video Dimensions and Aspect Ratio

| Updated on March 6, 2025

While scrolling through YouTube, why do you skip some videos and pause to watch or ignore many? Well, designs, clickbait, and layout are facts, but YouTube video size is really what catches the eyeballs. 

Just like every platform has its own post ratio for better engagement, YouTube social media also has its own YouTube video dimensions. And if you are a creator, these dimensions are what you need to swear by. 

So, read this blog thoroughly to understand what are the dimensions of a YouTube Video and how to make it creative to grab the viewer’s attention. 

The Best YouTube Video Resolution

YouTube video sizes

Uploading a high-quality video with the correct dimensions is a game changer, as the content can fit the proper frame and adhere to the exact guidelines of the video sharing platform

Note that dimensions are what we call pixels. The image length and width determine whether it will appear in high-definition, standard definition, or ultra-high definition. The higher your video resolutions are, the better quality it will be. Here are the best YouTube video size dimensions you can work with: 

4320p (8K) – 7680 by 4320 pixels

  • Ideal for extremely high-resolution material
  • Demands robust hardware for editing and playback.
  • Not universally compatible with all devices.

2160p (4K) – 3840 by 2160 pixels

  • Provides remarkable sharpness for professional material.
  • Perfect for cinematic footage and premium productions.
  • Bigger file sizes might need quicker internet speeds for seamless streaming.

1440p (2K) – 2560 x 1440 pixels

  • Excellent balance between quality and file size.
  • Functions effectively for high-definition tutorials and gaming content.
  • 1080p (Full HD) – 1920 by 1080 pixels
  • The most suggested resolution for YouTube videos
  • Delivers a clear viewing experience across a majority of devices.
  • Best for vlogs, instructional material, and amusement videos.

720p (HD) – 1280 x 720 pixels

  • Minimum requirements for HD content quality
  • Ideal for videos optimized for mobile and quick uploads
  • 480p (SD) – 854 by 480 pixels
  • Reduced resolution yet quicker upload and streaming rates.
  • Operates effectively in low-bandwidth environments.

360p – 640 by 360 pixels

  • Standard resolution, frequently utilized for quick-loading videos
  • Ideal for compact displays or when saving data

240p – 426 x 240 pixels

  • Minimum acceptable standard for YouTube uploads
  • Not advised for professional material

If you are really serious about putting out videos and content, always aim for 1080p and higher. The best thing is, you can create high-quality video even with your smartphones these days. So no more excuses!

The Best YouTube Video Aspect Ratio

Have you seen those black bars that crop the video? It appears when the aspect ratio does not match the given format. The connection of the vertical and horizontal video frame is what determines the shape of your video players. 

YouTube prefers vertical videos for the Shorts sections and horizontal videos for the general video streaming. You can either record the videos in such a way or use editing tools to fit them into sizes during the editing process. 

Here’s the YouTube video Aspect Ratio you must know about: 

  • 16:9 – Typical widescreen format (Suggested)
  • 4:3 – Traditional TV format (will show with black bars on either side)
  • 1:1 – Square layout, perfect for Instagram-type content.
  • 9:16 – Vertical format, typically utilized for YouTube Shorts
  • 21:9 – Ultra-wide aspect ratio, utilized for cinematic-style media (might display black bars on certain displays)

In case you upload a video that’s not in a 16:9 (standard) ratio, the platform automatically fits it into the screens. However, it is highly recommended to make regular videos in a 16:9 ratio and shorts in 9:16. 

The Best YouTube Video Format 

Imagine creating a perfect video and spending hours editing only to see that the video is crushed by YT’s compression algorithm. Painful, right? But you can avoid such situations and have high-quality playback. 

As the platform runs on all types of devices, it tries to balance file size with video quality for the perfect streaming experience on all devices. The best resolution that works with YT is MP4 with H.264 codec and AAC audio. 

Apart from that, here are several other formats supported by YouTube:

Video Format Positives  Negatives 
MP4Best supported format, quality-to-size ratio. No drawbacks. 
MOVWorks best for professionally edited videos. File sizes are larger. 
AVISuper high-quality videos. Does not work properly on the web, super large file sizes. 
WMVLower video quality.Compact sizes work on all devices. 
FLVWorks for gaming and live-streaming.Outdated format is not supported by many platforms. 
MKVGives access to heavy files with multiple soundtracks and subtitles. Not compatible with all devices. 
WebMIt is highly optimized for web usage. Have limited editing support. 

The Best YouTube Image Size 

YouTube is a video-first platform, and that’s true, but the visuals that we use on profile pictures and thumbnails are equally important to craft your own narrative and give a strong brand identity. The well-optimized visuals make your profile look neat and professional, appealing to a wider audience. You should be informed about these as they are important for the users willing to be a great youtuber

Here are the different sizes you must know about:

YouTube Profile Picture

YT Profile photo

It appears circular with your name and where you see your subscribers. This is the first impression of your channel that viewers get. 

  • Recommended Size: 800 x 800 pixels
  • Format: JPG, PNG, GIF (No animated GIFs)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1:1 (Square)

Point to note: You upload the image in regular square, but YT fits it in circular format. So make sure to highlight the important details in the frame. 

YouTube Thumbnail

youtube video thumbnail size

Think of this as the poster for a movie. The first glimpse makes your mind whether you want to watch it or not. YouTube thumbnails are exactly that. You need to make them engaging and creative to get better clicks. 

  • Recommended Size: 1280 x 720 pixels (Minimum width: 640 pixels)
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Format: JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP
  • File Size Limit: 2MB

YouTube Banner

YT Banner

The banners appear on the homepage of your profile. They are the biggest display of your channel and your personality. These are displayed differently on television, mobile, and desktops. Thus, you need to create a size that works on all devices and make sure to put the highlighting factor in the center. 

  • Recommended Size: 2560 x 1440 pixels
  • Minimum Safe Area: 1546 x 423 pixels (Visible on all devices)
  • File Size Limit: 6MB
  • Formats: JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP

YouTube Video Watermark

YT watermark

If you want to add a subtle touch of branding to all your videos, you can add a watermark. You can either make it look appealing or tacky. Adjusting it according to the video is the mantra. 

  • Recommended Size: 150 x 150 pixels
  • Format: PNG, GIF, BMP (Transparent background recommended)
  • File Size Limit: 1 MB

These are the multiple image formats you need to follow to make the most of your YouTube content. 

How to Change YouTube Video Sizes?

In case your original video does not fit the accurate YouTube video size chart, you need to fix it and mind you, changing the size is a tedious task. However, with some determination you can achieve it. Here are a few effective ways you can make the adjustments: 

  1. Resize Videos in Editing Software Programs: Use Adobe Premier Pro, Final Cut Pro, Da Vinci Resolve, or even mobile editing software. These software programs are ideal for tweaking the dimensions of the video while still keeping the main essence. 
  1. Online Video Resizers: There are plenty of online video resizers available on the web. The best part is they are not heavy software and do a great job of adjusting the image. 
  1. Resize in YouTube Studio: YT does not have any feature that allows tweaking the aspect ratio. However, while uploading, you can select the ratio in YouTube Studio. You can either trim or crop or add padding (black bars) to maintain the correct proportions. 

These are the best methods to fix the aspect ratio of YouTube videos. Moving ahead, let’s look at the tricks to optimize your videos for the best engagement rate. Well, it is recommended to be informed about the longest video on youtube too. 

Tips and Tricks for YouTube Optimization 

You can maximize your video’s impact with some simple tips and tricks that we have listed below:

  1. Use the Right Video Resolution: You can upload videos of any quality. However, to capture more eyes, prefer hitting 1080p (full HD) and 4K (ultra HD) quality. 
  1. Optimize Video Format: Make sure to use MP4 (H.264 codec) and a bitrate of 8-12 Mbps for 1080p and 35-45 Mbps for 4K. This helps the YouTube algorithm push the videos to more viewers. 
  1. Add Subtitles and Captions: Never post a video with a basic title or something irrelevant. Make sure to write the video title that matches it and add captions for more readability. 
  1. Use SEO Keywords: Add relevant keywords, write a proper description, and engage viewers with the end card. Encourage people to like, share, and comment to boost your engagement

Note that the work you put in before and while uploading the video will definitely pay you results once the YT algorithm understands it. So keep on creating magical videos!

Wrapping Up!

Having a well-optimized YouTube grows much faster than the rest, as the YT algorithm prefers pushing it. But how is it achievable? 

Well, you can obtain it by having an accurate video aspect ratio on YouTube, size dimensions, and good resolutions. 

We have given a brief on what is the best size for a YouTube video, aspect ratio, image size, and video format in this blog. Memorize it for creating and refer to the info again to not mess up while editing. Along with all necessary steps mentioned above, be mindful towards the best time to post on youtube

Share the info with your friends and family too!

FAQ

Are YouTube videos 1920×1080?

Yes, the most popularly accepted resolution for streaming YT videos is 1920X1080. 

Are Youtube videos 16 by 9?

The regular videos on YouTube are posted in the aspect ratio of 16:9. The short videos are vertical and posted in the ratio of 9:16. 

What Size is a 1920×1080 Video Frame?

1920×1080 pixels is 1080p resolution, which is high quality. This resolution works best for professionally edited videos. 

Sources


Janvi Panthri

Senior Writer, Editor


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